to lucy miller on her sixth birthday

My girl,

I keep searching for 4’s to put on your cake. That seems about right, but Sullivan caught me and informed me that you will be 6 instead and that seems so unreal. While it just seems like you were born, on the other hand it always seems like you’ve been with us-giving our family that magical spark that only you can. Have I mentioned how we need you??

Last year your 5th birthday happened in the midst of intense trauma for our family. I barely remember it. Nevertheless you danced and twirled your heart away with your best friends and made me feel like a good mama for pushing through. The days following were heartbreaking as I watched you reel from something that wasn’t your fault. But you are light and that light pushed through the darkness and you are here on the other side.

Our year was made extra special with three visits to the New Hampshire cousins and all the fun and chaos that comes with that. You love baby Avonlea and want to help with her. We also got to go visit my friend Ashlee and her new baby Mary. Oh you were in heaven.

This year we moved to a house the the woods and you and I spent many a summer night sitting in our dresses in the cool water of our creek. You love the woods-climbing trees and playing hide and go seek.

We also got a dog this year-Grover. You love him…almost to death. The poor thing can hardly get away from your all consuming love and hugs. “Gwova! Gwova!” you yell every time that we get home and you race the bruddas to him.

You started kindergarten this year and it was as seamless as any transition could ever hope to be. You love learning. You love Spanish and you love your teacher. You also got glasses to wear at school and you look so cute it hurts. You’re not quite reading yet but I will take the blame for that. I haven’t worked very hard at it with you. You’re still writing backwards a good amount of time. I secretly love it.

You poor thing. Your brothers are pretty much relentless with you-despite my best efforts. You are a scrappy little thing who will defend herself till the end. You have started scratching back and it’s brutal. Hopefully they’ll learn their lessons soon. When there’s fighting I’m secretly on your team and I’m glad you stick up for yourself. But cool it on the scratches…

You started ballet classes for real this year and I get to watch you dance your heart out every week and it is HEAVEN. You are by far the most graceful and thoughtful dancer out there. You are also very bossy and demanding of keeping the other girls in line. I think you think you’re the teacher. You’re doing tap too which is SO CUTE. You were Shirley Temple for Halloween and it just made my life. Like some people dream about meeting a celebrity but seeing you as Shirley Temple, this took the cake for me. I got to take you with your Grandmama and Jojo to the Nutcracker ballet this Christmas. You sat bouncing on my lap just entranced by the dancers and the set. It was a dream come true to have you there with me, my tiny dancer.

You are the funniest little thing and make us crack up all the time.

Oh Lucy Miller. You are such a gift to this world, to this mama’s heart. I don’t know what I would do without the joie de vivre you give my life.

I pray you know my love and the love of our Father in heaven so deep down that it is rooted like the trees we love so much.

You are the most beautiful girl in the whole wide world,

Mama

to sullivan on his 8th birthday

oh my little valentine,

Today you are 8 years old. What a sweet little mystery you are to me. You are usually very quiet and engaged in something you love (drawing intricate dragons, finding bugs or fish or reading usually). We’ve had your hearing tested several times because you simply do not hear anyone when you are engrossed like that.

This summer Daddy and I took you on a special solo trip to visit Aunt Jaja and Uncle Daniel in Colorado. You came out of your shell so much and talked almost completely non stop. We went to the most amazing zoo where you had your fill of animals but your favorite part of the trip was their hot tub. Every night you would jump in by yourself and just chill.

Sullivan, this past year has been SO HARD. Barclay has needed almost all of my attention and you my precious one, have gotten the scraps of me. You never complain but I see you sinking deeper into yourself, retreating from all the hurt and I just want to dive in and save you. I only have so much though. I am praying and dedicating this year to learning more about you and pouring myself into loving you. I want to draw you out and let you grow.

Because you don’t get all of me during our chaotic days, you slip into my bed in the wee morning hours and curl your body around mine. We go in and out of trying to get you to stay in your bed but deep down I know you’re just quietly filling your love bucket in the ways you can.

Your gentleness is one of my favorite parts of you, Sullivan. I love when we get a break from Barclay and it’s just you and Lucy. You talk a sing song baby talk to her and are always protecting her and teaching her.

You still love animals and exploring. When we went to the PNW you were always wet , head down in a tide pool. You can find the tiniest creature out of what looks like nothingness.

You have my mental energy…you frequently “just cannot do things” (hills being one of the things we “cannot” do), you don’t like mornings and you barely can talk when you haven’t had food recently.

You are so kind at school and have lots of friends. You wanted to get this special award at school and you worked hard and got it. You came alive with recognition even though I just assumed that it wouldn’t mean much. That’s what I’m talking about. I need to know you more deeply. I want to know you more deeply.

Sullivan, thanks for binding up wounds, whispering your love to me when I can’t lift my head and making me laugh. You are complete love in human form and I am always, always, always in awe that you are mine.

mama

to barclay on his tenth birthday

oh my boy.

A decade has gone by since they placed your squirmy red body and your misshapen head onto my chest and into my long expectant arms. You must know. You MUST know how I love you. Ours is a special love, an untouchable love. I will say it again and again, I have never wanted anything more than I wanted you.

This was a year of triumph for you. I’ve watched you struggle since day two of your life. Piece by piece we have fit together many things that make you feel yuck (allergies, special needs…) but this year we found a wonderful psychiatrist who worked with us and a wonderful new therapist to decided to medicate you for ADHD.

I feel like I fought my whole life to avoid this diagnosis. I tried ev.ery.thing. else one could think of (herbs, cbd, OT, kinesiology, acupuncture, chiro, massage, diets, cleanses, etc etc etc) . Much to my surprise and delight, you IMMEDIATELY reacted well to it. I’ll never forget it was a Saturday morning and I gave you your first pill and for the rest of the morning you played with your siblings without lashing out or yelling once. It was our first relaxing Saturday at home since you were born.

You went from a terrible student (although everyone knew you were brilliant), no friends, parents at their wits end of how to help you…to who I’ve always known was under all the discomfort. A freaking amazing kid.

Today you have friends and can keep them. You have 3 best friends at school-a club of the cutest little imaginations there are.. You are soaring in your school work and you have confidence. You feel good about yourself. I start pouring tears every time I think of it.

I remember holding a 2 year old in my arms as his eyes traveled back and forth at lightening speed, trying to hold his body so that he would not explode from energy. I remember the baby who cried every waking hour. Such a long journey in so many ways but you finally, FINALLY feel good in your body and your mind.

We did have quite the setback in December where we were reminded how bad things used to be. A quick med adjustment helped calm you right down and we are back to a good place. Why do I fight them so much? Drugs are amazing! Lifesaving! You and I talk a lot about our special brains and the medicines we have to take to feel better. We aren’t alone.

Barclay, you are on the cusp of something. Boyhood maybe? I watch breathlessly as you run around in your tattered moccasins and your old coon skin cap. Will today be the last day that you are so unbridled and so imaginative? Your imagination is brilliant and everyone loves to be around you because you bring such a magical life to those around you. You haven’t quite figured out it isn’t “cool” to be a fox at school or that most people don’t spend their days creating worlds and storylines. I love that about you and I hope we have years more of it.

On your class trip to Cherokee this year you wore your moccasins so proudly. I got to chaperone and watch you and it was just plain sweet. I was giddy the whole day.

Daddy and I took you to your first concert, Mandolin Orange. You loved it and then you fell asleep in my arms at the end. I looked up to the starry sky and I felt such sorrow and such joy. That’s it. Sorrow and joy. That’s what it is to raise a boy of almost 10.

Because you feel good in your body for the first time in your life, you are able to be kind to your siblings for the most part. Gentleness and protectiveness with Lucy (see suitcase picture) and inclusiveness and camaraderie with your brother.

You were able to go to 2 weeks of Camp Rockmont this summer and you THRIVED. You didn’t write me one single letter. When I picked you up you buried your head in my neck and whispered, “I might have been just a little bit homesick.”

You took mandolin lessons the first of the year. We are hoping to start back up soon. One time in our neighborhood there was a band playing for fourth of July and you went and got your instrument and joined in.

You are the most incredible little human. You have no fear and you talk to adults like you are one of them. You are so personable and engaging. All adults adore you. You like to dress up fancy, in a jacket and tie. I love that you don’t even notice you are the only one.

This year I have screamed things to you I regret with my whole being. We have fought like we were enemies. It is so very hard to be your mother at times-especially when I feel so out of control in keeping you safe or others safe (this is when you haven’t been properly medicated). Sometimes I feel sorry for myself because it’s so hard. But Barclay, you are worth it. You are worth every pain and I believe you will grow up to be the most incredible man. I know these hard times will shape you to be compassionate. I know your intensity will go to wonderful things.

And your freckles…oh your freckles….

I pray you know my love just a little bit more this year and mostly that you know the unending, unchanging love of your savior.

It’s finally your birthday!

mama